Below are categories to consider when nominating your faculty member. These are guidelines meant to serve as a starting point but are not meant to be an exhaustive list. Your nominee does not need to satisfy all these criteria. The selection committee is looking for candidates who go above and beyond in their advising, teaching and mentoring. The selection committee will also take into consideration the diverse needs of various fields.

Advising

• Provides student-specific guidance on how to achieve successful completion of program requirements (i.e. exams, thesis, etc.), both in terms of content and process.
• Sets clear and reasonable expectations for progress.

Mentoring

• Provides helpful advice throughout various stages of graduate or professional school.
• Directs students towards resources, literature, and potential collaborators that can assist them in their work.
• Effectively motivates students to succeed.
• Provides helpful advice about work-life balance, as necessary or appropriate.

Teaching

• Offers innovative courses which provide students with a foundation in the methodology and state of knowledge in their discipline, often focused on original research, discussion of research practices/techniques, and applications.
• Creates a challenging and constructive seminar environment.

Leadership

• Fosters community and collegiality among students and faculty.
• Creates or implements new programs, beneficial policies, or funding opportunities for graduate and professional students.
• Outstanding service in positions relevant to graduate and professional students (both formal and informal), such as Director of Graduate Studies, job-placement officer, Department Chair, etc.
• Serves as a good role model for the values, professional conduct, and disciplinary practices that promote the aims of research.
   

Collegiality

• Takes student ideas seriously and treats students as future colleagues.
• Provides constructive criticism.
• Attends or moderates presentations by students, when possible.
• Goes above and beyond to engage with graduate and/or professional students, including active participation in department/field life.

Professional Development
 

• Expresses a willingness for ongoing engagement regarding professional development.
• Works with students to define their professional goals and helps to prepare them for success.
• Suggests relevant programs, conferences, workshops or other opportunities.
• Goes above and beyond to provide students with guidance regarding time management & productivity, grant preparation, work-life balance, and other intangibles essential for professional success.

Pedagogy Development
 

• Models or teaches students how to be an effective teacher in the classroom and how to train and mentor undergraduate students.
• Engages graduate students in conversations about pedagogy, demonstrated through course visits, teaching feedback, incorporation of a pedagogy component into a graduate seminar, supervising courses, or discussion of pedagogy in meetings with graduate students.

Responsiveness

• Provides thoughtful and timely feedback on student work.
• Creates comfortable environment for communication.